Feedback: Anything’s appreciated. I'm working on becoming a
better writer, so the more critical, the better.

Fandom: Popular

Pairings: S/B

Ratings: PG

Warnings: If the idea of two women involved in a
not-quite-platonic relationship upsets you… well what are you doing on this
website? I mean, turn back now… yes, that’s what I meant.

Disclaimers: I am but a measly little peon that only owns
newly purchased dishware and thanks to my last payday, slightly more then $ .48
cents in my bank account. Everything important belongs to Ryan Murphy (well…
almost everything important) and the song belongs to Meredith Brooks.

A/N: NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF THE YAHOO POPULAR SLASH GROUP!
(Ok, not THAT important.) But I made some alterations to this version of the
story vs. my other I posted. Nothing life altering and I will be notifying you
on there as well. Sorry for any confusion… (Like there’d be any.)

Brooke put on her
well-practiced smile as she was led into the building, once again thanking all
those years in high school for teaching her how to hide her feelings. She raised
her hand and waved in a model-like fashion as their names were announced on the
loud speaker:

// “Now welcoming the Governor of California and his lovely wife,
Josh and Brooke Ford.” //

*Brooke McQueen,*
she thought to herself, still waving, *I never took his last name and I never
will.*

The room that had
previously stopped all activity at their entrance now broke into a robust round
of applause. Cheers, whistles and various other congratulatory noises reached
Brooke’s ears, but they meant nothing to her. None of this meant anything to
her. It was all for show, and so was she.

She watched, detached,
as Josh removed himself from her to go shake hands and chat with some of the
other big wigs that were present. This was the third political convention she’d
been dragged to in the past two weeks and they were starting to tire her out.

*Look at them all.
They’re all in the same boat as me. Each one of them just another perfectly
molded trophy wife,* Brooke thought to herself, one of the aforementioned
wives trying to engage her in menial conversation, *Well, that’s not true.
Most of them all enjoy the position they’re in. They love the fame, the money,
the prestige. Me… I hate all of this. It’s just too much like being in high
school. I should never have agreed to marry Josh. Not when my heart was pining
for…*

It was the
last game of the year. The Glamazons were getting ready for what was to be the
greatest halftime cheer in Kennedy High history. They had been practicing for
months and couldn’t be anymore prepared then they were now. Well… Brooke could
have been. Physically, she was more then ready, but emotionally…

She scanned the crowd
in desperation, *I need her to be here. She promised she wouldn’t miss this.*
She went through her routines like they were just that; routines. She was
completing each move with expertise, but anyone who knew her would be able to
see her heart just wasn’t in it.

*Where is she?*
Brooke wondered, *Today was going to be the day I finally tell her how I…*

Her thoughts
were interrupted by Josh wrapping his arms around her waist. “Hey babe,” he
cooed into her ear.

*Why haven’t I
broken it off with him yet?* She wondered internally. *Oh right, because
that’s not what’s expected of me. I'm the head cheerleader, therefore, I must
date the captain of the football team. Why again do I let popularity rule me
like this? If she’s taught me anything it’s that I don’t need popularity to be
happy. I just need her.*

“I have a
surprise for you during halftime,” Josh broke into her thoughts in a cheery
voice.

Brooke put in place
her ‘I'm happy, truly, I am. *rolls eyes*’ smile, “That’s great Josh, I can’t
wait.”

Josh gave a her a
chaste peck on the lips and ran back to join the team who was heading to the
locker room. Brooke went back to scanning the crowd, disappointment etching her
features as she once again couldn’t find…

Once again she was
interrupted, but this time it was by a soft hand being placed on her shoulder.

“Hey, Brooke,” a
gentle voice whispered into her ear sending shivers down her spine, “I told you
I’d make it.”

Brooke turned to find
the object of her desperate scanning standing mere inches in front of her with a
glowing smile on her face. Without a second thought she threw herself on the
girl and crushed her into a hug.

“You made it!” she
shouted into the stunned girl’s shoulder, her voice luckily muffled by the
material of the other girl’s shirt.

“Of course,” the girl
said, wrapping Brooke in a hug and holding her tightly, “I promised I would and
I’d never break a promise, not one I made to you.”

She pulled back and
looked Brooke in the eyes, “So what’s the thing you wanted to tell me?”

Brooke was about to
respond when Nicole broke in. *Man I'm getting tired of being interrupted,*
she thought to herself.

“What do you think
you’re doing touching Brooke before her big moment? If I were you, I’d take your
non-Gucci clad self and make a haste exist before I have to lower myself to
touching scum like you. We can’t have you defiling our Brookie this close to
game time.”

Nicole continued
ranting as the girl in question buried her head in the crook of Brooke’s neck
and shook with silent laughter. Brooke giggled quietly alongside her when she
heard a hushed, “Is she done yet?” mumbled against her neck.

Both girls were torn
apart by an irate Nicole.

“SPAM MCPHERESON! GET
YOUR PAWS OFF OF BROOKE AND GET YOUR ASS INTO THE STANDS BEFORE I PLACE YOU
THERE MYSELF!”

“Alright, alright.”
Sam said, throwing an apologetic look at Brooke, “ Chill Satan, I'm going.
Besides, I wouldn’t want to catch any disease from having to make bodily contact
with you.” With that, Sam turned and made her way up into the stands.

Halftime went off
without a hitch and just as Brooke was turning to pack up her pompoms and go and
finally have her chat with Sam the announcer cut in,

// “And now for a halftime surprise…” //

Brooke turned around
to see Josh slowly approaching her with a grin on his face. Everything seemed to
go in slow motion for Brooke as she watched Josh get down on one knee and open
up a small, velvet box. She was so shocked that she felt herself go on autopilot
as her mental functions just seemed to shut down. She registered the feeling of
a ring being slid onto her finger and the sound of a question being asked.

Too bad for Brooke,
her autopilot was the same as her popular side, ready to please and willing to
do whatever was necessary to keep the norm. It was the same side of her that had
agreed to go out with Josh in the first place. The same side who had gotten her
into a pregnancy scare. The same side who had destroyed Carmen’s dreams of
becoming a cheerleader. The same side that was about to ruin not only her
future, but the future of another.

If Brooke had kept her
head on her shoulders and not turned on autopilot, maybe she would have had the
chance to really think over what was happening. Unfortunately for Brooke, she
didn’t.

The captain of the
football team was on his knees in front of the entire school proposing to the
captain of the cheerleaders. As far as Brooke’s autopilot knew, there was only
one proper response to this. And as that little word slipped past her lips,
Brooke knew she had made the wrong choice.

Josh jumped up and
planted a kiss firmly on her lips before wrapping her in a suffocating hug,
“You’ve just made me the happiest person alive.”

That fake smile was
back on her face, *and made me the most miserable,* she thought sadly,
before her eyes found Sam’s in the crowd.

*Make that the
second most miserable,* her heart stopped in her chest as the saw the look
of absolute pain flash across Sam’s face.

Sam’s head dropped,
breaking all contact with Brooke, who knew without a doubt, that she had just
made the greatest mistake of her life and now it was too late to go back and fix
it.

She knew Sam was
fighting back tears and most likely losing. She watched as Sam suddenly tensed,
steeling her shoulders and straightening her back. The expression she wore right
then would haunt Brooke for the rest of her life. Her face was devoid of
emotion, lips set in a firm line, no sign of tears anywhere on her cheeks or in
her eyes… her eyes… The look in them turned Brooke’s stomach and brought tears
to her own eyes. Sam’s eyes held a look she never thought she’d ever see in
them. Swirling in those usually expressive chocolate orbs… was nothing. No
sadness, no hurt, no betrayal… none of the emotions she knew must be raging
inside Sam, just plain nothing. Sam and all her passion and drive had been
defeated by that one stupid word.

Brooke knew that every
single wall Sam possessed had just been put back up and around her heart. Each
wall that Brooke had strived so hard and succeeded to break down was now back in
place.

With unquestionable
certainty, Brooke knew that they would never come down again. With one little
word, she had destroyed everything the two girls had built up over the last
year. With one little word, she had destroyed Sam.

And somehow, when Sam
stood up and walked from the stands, Brooke knew she would never see her again.

*And I never did,
she was gone before I even got home from school. Mom said she had just packed
and left,* Brooke felt tears fill her eyes and shook her head to clear
herself of thoughts she really couldn’t afford to delve into. *It’s too late
to bother obsessing about the past. She’s gone and I'm with…* she looked
over to where Josh was busy wooing another major political ally, she sighed, *him.*

She politely excused
herself from the woman who was now discussing the political ramifications of
banning old men from feeding ducks and was about to head outside for a breath of
fresh, non-political air when something caught her eye.

*Make that someone,*
her mind chimed in as she attempted to catch another glimpse of the person. *It
can’t be, there’s no way. She’d never come to one of these things. Unless... no,
that couldn’t be it. She must be writing an article on it or something. She
hates you remember? I broke her heart and for what? Popularity? She has to hate
me, even I hate me.* But none of that stopped Brooke from getting her hopes
up and continuing to look for her.

Brook hadn’t even
acknowledged that their was music until her ears caught the familiar beats
starting up and her eyes caught Sam’s from across the room.

*She’s here!!* her
mind screamed internally.

The sight of Sam
standing there in a deep red, knee-length dress almost brought Brooke to her
knees. Hell, just the sight of Sam after so long was enough to bring Brooke to
her knees.

Emotions flooded
Brooke and turned her into a helpless pile of mush. Where she had expected to
see nothing less then pure hatred directed towards her, she found love and
compassion. Where she had expected to see pain and heartbreak, she saw lust and
desire. In that instant she knew that Sam had forgiven her, she knew that Sam
understood why she did what she did.

The lyrics drifted
through Brooke’s Sam-induced haze and wrapped themselves around her.

Electricity, eye to eye.
Hey don't I know you?
I can't speak.

It was as if that
painful even two years prior had never occurred. The two broken lovers gazed at
each other as if seeing the other for the first time and Brooke couldn’t have
been more thrilled.

Stripped my senses,
On the spot.
I've never been defenseless.
I can't even make sense of this.
You speak and I don't hear a word.

Brooke felt raw. So
many emotions were running through her, tearing her apart, leaving her feeling
empty and full at the same time. She didn’t even notice Sam approach her or
whisper her name. The only reason she had any idea that Sam had said anything
was due to her gaze having rested on those oh-so-tempting lips.

Sam finally noticed
that Brooke wasn’t hearing a word she said and when she followed the other
girl’s line of sight she noticed why. Unable to quell the urge, Sam seductively
ran her tongue over her bottom lip before biting it between her teeth and
releasing it with a soft ‘pop’.

Brooke’s thoughts had
wondered back to a time when she wouldn’t have thought twice before pressing her
lips against the ones in front of hers and taking that talented tongue into her
mouth. But now… now she wasn’t so sure that was a smart idea.

What would happen if we kissed?
Would your tongue slip past my lips?
Would you run away, would you stay?
Or would I melt into you…
Mouth to mouth, lust to lust,
Spontaneously combust.

Sam’s hand came up and softly brushed against
Brooke’s in order to wake her from her dreaming. She had to get the other girl’s
attention before she jumped her where she stood.

Brooke shook her head and brought her attention to the present. She
had been lost in thoughts of the past. Thoughts where she would already be
pressed against the nearest wall, Sam’s body melded against her own, their lips
tasting each other desperately, hands wandering…

Brooke had wandered off again, Sam could tell because her eyes had
taken on a glossed over look. *And a slightly darker tinge,* her mind
chirped in. Sam looked over the girl in front of her and noticed the flush in
her cheeks and the way her breathing was coming out in short pants. *Damn, if
she doesn’t snap out of her daze, I'm not going to be responsible for my
actions.*

The room is spinning out of control.
Act like you didn't notice,
Brushed my hand.

Forbidden fruit,
Ring on my finger.
You're such a moral, moral –man-,
You throw it away, no question.
Will I pretend I'm innocent?

Finally,
Brooke came back to the present and noticed that Sam was now standing directly
in front of her, so close she could feel the other girl’s hot breath on her
neck. *This is too much, I can’t do this. I'm married to Josh. Married,
mean’s ‘off the market’. Then again… I don’t love him, I never have. Our sex
life is non-existent and I know for a fact that he’s been seeing Nicole behind
my back so no one’s going to be wronged...*

What would happen if we kissed?
Would your tongue slip past my lips?
Would you run away, would you stay?
Or would I melt into you…
Mouth to mouth, lust to lust,
Spontaneously combust.

Sam watched
as thoughts raced through Brooke’s eyes, a myriad of expressions running across
her face. Lust, desperation, fear, lust, confusion, anger… before it finally
settled on contentedness. *Bordering on lust,* Sam thought, smirking, *but
she’s with Josh, remember? Only for show though…I came to that conclusion a
while ago, and after my… riveting discussion with Nicole and discovering what
he’s doing behind Brooke’s back… Well, that’s when I truly knew that she never
said Yes to hurt me or because she truly loved Josh. She did it because it was
what was expected of her. I’ve forgiven her for that. Besides, I saw the
look in Brooke’s eyes that day. At first I didn’t understand it, but after a
while I figured it out. It was regret, she hadn’t meant to say yes to Josh.*
Sam shook her head to rid herself of the negative thoughts and realized that
Brooke was, at last, back in the present with her.

I struggle with myself again,
Quickly the walls are crumbling.
Don't know if I can turn away…

Brooke
looked Sam in the eye and gasped as she saw the lust and love she felt mirrored
back at her. *She doesn’t hate me! She forgives me!* And with that
thought, Brooke felt her last ounce of resolve crumble. She pulled Sam to her
and embraced the shorter girl in a loving hug.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “That day, I was planning on finally telling you that I…”

“I know,” Sam interrupted, brushing a strand of hair out of Brooke’s eyes, {{A/N: getting
tired of the interruptions yet? *snickers* }} “and you should know I’ve already
forgiven you,” Sam whispered back, pulling away just enough to look Brooke in
the eyes. She quietly sang the rest of the lyrics to Brooke, a mischievous glint
in her eyes,

“What would happen if we kissed?
Would your tongue slip past my lips?
Would you run away, would you stay?
Or would I melt into you…
Mouth to mouth, lust to lust,
Spontaneously combust?”